Due to the Decker Fire, Fremont County Emergency Management has closed Chaffee County Road 101/CR 49 (Bear Creek Road) in Fremont County, with only local traffic allowed. Closures include portions of roads 101 and 101A on National Forest lands and the Rainbow Trail (1336 trail) south of road 108 to the Stout Lakes Trail (1403 trail). A temporary flight restriction has been issued over the fire to allow for aerial operations.
Smoke from the Decker Fire, visible from U.S. 291, hangs over Salida on Saturday, Sept. 29. (Photo by Jan Wondra)
Increased winds since Sunday morning continue, part of what fire crews are calling “a four-day long wind event” through at least Wednesday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon to 7 p.m. each day through Wednesday. Smoke continues to be visible from Salida, Howard and surrounding communities as winds increase in the area.
Fire officials say that critical fire weather conditions have the potential to create sudden changes in fire direction, behavior and growth. In anticipation of this continuing critical fire weather, and to keep the objective of limiting fire spread to private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, fire managers have increased firefighters and equipment on the Decker Fire.
With 5 percent containment, the fire currently remains primarily in wilderness areas. Where it is appropriate, the forest service will allow the fire to “naturally promote forest health and resiliency.” When it approached specific “action points, more aggressive tactics may be utilized to keep the fire’s edge in check. Necessary measures will be taken to keep residents informed and safe.”
On Saturday, crews successfully conducted planned aerial ignitions on the southeast side of the fire which tied the Decker Fire to the old Ox Cart Fire burn scar. The increase in smoke was primarily due to these operations. Smoke was also visible in the evening from a small patch of previously unburned fuel in the Merkt drainage.
On the southwest side of the fire, crews completed and improved a fire line up to the 991 Road where the 945 Road meets the Rio Grande National Forest boundary. On the north/northeast side, firefighters constructed indirect handline south from the Rainbow Trail, tying it into the rock scree right at the fire’s edge. The K-MAX helicopter kept the fire’s northeast edge in check with multiple water bucket drops.
Crews on the north/northeast side of the fire will continue constructing indirect fireline today, working to join it to 101 Road. Structure protection crews will work with residents in the Bear Creek, Silver Creek and Pine Ridge neighborhoods, engaging in mitigation efforts and creating defensible space. Mitigation actions include limbing branches, trimming vegetation and establishing temporary sprinkler systems.
Humidity remains low, with winds that will gust up to 30 mph. On the ridgelines and in drainages, winds are predicted to be 20-30 mph, gusts of 40-50 mph. Some strong winds remain overnight. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist throughout the week.
Decker Fire Statistics:
Size: 1,501 acres, 5 percent containment
Total Personnel: 157
Cause: Lightning
Start Date: Sept. 8, 2019
Location: Nine miles south of Salida
Decker Fire Information Office
Fire Info Line: (719) 626-1095
InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6592/
Facebook: facebook.com/DeckerFire2019
Twitter: #DeckerFire2019
The Decker Fire is divided into two Branches:
Branch I (on the northeast side by Salida) and Branch II (on the southwest side the San Luis Valley). Then subdivided into five divisions.
Branch I - Salida
• Division T (northeast side by Wellsville)
• Division R (north side by Salida)
• Division W (southeast side by Howard)
• Division A (west side by Poncha Pass)
• Division X (south side by Alder)
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